Diagnosis

Discussion

Diverticulosis is typically an acquired condition of the bowel found primarily in Westernized countries, felt to occur secondarily to the low-fiber, high-fat diet of these regions [1]. The number of diverticula found in the colon tend to increase with age, such that less then 2% of patients under age 30 are found to have this condition, 40% are found to have diverticula at age 60, and 60% of individuals acquire diverticula by age 802. 95% of bowel diverticula occur in the sigmoid and descending colon and tend to progress proximally with age [2]. Diverticula of the colon are considered pseudodiverticula, with herniation of only the mucosal and submucosal layers. Only 10-25% of patients with diverticulosis will develop diverticulitis with a range of symptoms from mild flares to life-threatening complications [1,2].